Todmorden Market roof repairs passed

Todmorden Market will get a share of a half-a-million-pound fund to repair historic buildings across Calderdale.

Initially, the council highlighted four buildings in Halifax in need of repairs - North Bridge Leisure Centre, Victoria Theatre, Halifax Borough Market and Bankfield Museum.

On Monday, however, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet voted to amend the proposals to give Todmorden Market a share of the cash - although how much cash has not yet been finalised.

The Conservative-led Cabinet’s budget proposals have been criticised by the Liberal Democrat group on Calderdale Council, who want to see the full £500,000 used to improve the borough’s markets.

Coun Janet Battye, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the council, said: “We want to see £500,000 spent on Calderdale Council’s markets, rather than the vague ‘historic and cultural buildings’ mentioned in the Cabinet budget proposals.

“The Halifax Borough Market may be the jewel of our markets, but it’s in a sorry state, as is Todmorden market - Calderdale is a place of ‘market towns’ and we want to see investment in them.”

The Labour group has also put forward proposals to improve Todmorden Market through an Investment Fund.

Coun Tim Swift, leader of the Labour group on the council, said: “It will ensure that we are able to start tackling problems in some of our most important buildings and facilities.

“This means we can start on the work of protecting vital buildings such as the Victoria Theatre, and the Halifax Borough Market and Todmorden Market Hall,” he said.